Ronovan Writes – Page 12 – Poetry, Short Prose and Walking

Still – Holy Spirit

The only muse worth listening to,
The only One who even is,
Corrects us, guides us, leads us. His
Consuming fire will clean, renew
Transforming everything we do.
We sinners turn.  This living flame
Burns off the chaff.  The devil's blame
Becomes as nothing. We are still.
As falsehood breaks, each true word will
No longer be lukewarm, nor tame.

Linked to Ronovan Writes Décima Poetry Challenge where the challenge is to use the rhyme word “still” in the D part of the rhyme pattern ABBAACCDDC. For another poem on the Holy Spirit see Mary Hood’s poem Holy Spirit and her observation that there’s a difference between the Greek muses and the Holy Spirit. I used to talk about “muses”, but given the Holy Spirit I see no need to hide Him behind some Greek myth.

Ronovan's Decima Poetry Challenge Image — Ronovan’s Decima Poetry Challenge Image

Look

When rain returns the barren land
Is filled with blooms we all can see,
A resurrection mystery,
A pouring that we understand
As blessings from an open hand.
A year ago we doubted. Look!
There’s water flowing in the brook.
Those ways we’ve turned from have somehow
Been transformed into nothing now
Like drivel from an unread book.

Linked to Ronovan Writes Décima Poetry Challenge where the challenge is to use the word “look” as the C rhyme in a poem with rhyme scheme ABBAACCDDC.

Fall – Décima

Dark witches of the winter know
Some spells they heard in full-moon fall.
Their Ba’al doesn't know it all.
His shadows flicker where they go
When morning light lets failings show.
Those who wake in time may see
How ignorance loves mystery,
How feelings masquerade as good,
How petty sins start ticking. Could
They all explode mechanically?

Linked to Ronovan Writes Décima Poetry Challenge where the challenge is to use “fall” as a rhyme word in the B lines where the rhyme pattern is ABBAACCDDC. The photos are from around October/November of last year.

Blend

I feel as if I ought to send
A warning out to one and all:
Beyond the bend's a cliff, a fall,
A tragedy, a blur, a blend
Into a gorgeous, awful end.
And then inconsequentially
What would become of you and me?
Ah! Let it come here anyway.
Yes, Come tomorrow. Come today!
Embrace the opportunity.

Linked to Ronovan Writes Décima Poetry Challenge where the challenge is to use “blend” as a rhyming word in the A lines. The poem has ten lines with rhyme pattern ABBAACCDDC.

Trail at Palmer Park, Colorado Springs, Colorado

Smile

In summer-spring when flowers bloom
We know what's pretty soon will be
Allowed to drop indifferently.
For autumn's seeds we made this room.
We danced around the bride and groom.
They faced each other with a smile
Rejoicing, talking, thinking while 
The feast was laid out fresh with food.
Recall that early springtime mood
When brides walked down the wedding aisle.

Linked to Ronovan Writes Décima Poetry Challenge where the rhyme word “smile” must appear in a c line where the rhyme scheme is abbaaccddc.

Ride

Since none of us get very old
Why stand in line to take this ride?
Why worry what is left to hide?
But demons tempt, "Don't leave your gold."
We count all that our hands can hold.
Around our magic carousel
We hear the call of some church bell.
We’re counting still. Wait til we're through.
There's so much counting left to do
Before the popping of the spell.

Linked to Ronovan Writes Décima Poetry Challenge where the word “ride” must rhyme on one of the B lines where the rhyme pattern is ABBAACCDDC.

Stay

I often want bright blooms to stay
But they perhaps are restless too.
There’s more ahead for them to do.
They serve their seeds which go away
Like snowflakes on a winter’s day.
Nor have I stayed long anywhere. 
I might live under skies less fair
Or wander somewhere else and try
To find bright blooms that please my eye
Or serve in ways that show I care.

Linked to Ronovan Writes Décima Poetry Challenge using “stay” as a rhyming word in the a position of the abbaaccddc rhyme pattern for this ten line form with eight syllables per line.

One of my poems has appeared in Potcake Chapbook 7, Murder! – Poems of killings past and present. I am grateful to Robin Helweg-Larsen for accepting it.

Prize

What’s tentative fell to the ground,
But reason helped it stay afloat.
The words came choking on the throat.
The premises felt less than sound.

Defeated, dropped but then re-found
Where will this walk in circles go?
It leads to home. We didn't know
The autumn prairie took the prize
On blooms that mirrored sunny skies.
So likewise seek what you would show.

Linked to Ronovan Writes Décima Poetry Challenge where the rhyme word “prize” is to appear in the d lines. The rhyme pattern for this 10-line form is abbaaccddc.

Somme Prairie Nature Preserve, Northbrook, Illinois

Grow

I wasn’t there to plant this spring.
The morning glories didn’t care.
They’re back again off climbing where
I left some soil.  No watering
But they still rose. It’s comforting
That when I fail they ever grow
Although forgotten.  Watch them show
Their bright green leaves each like a heart.
I see the buds break out and start
To bloom again. There! Off they go.

Linked to Ronovan Writes Décima Poetry Challege with the rhyme word “grow” in the c position of the rhyme scheme, abbaaccddc.

Kind

Our lives seem flippant, short and free.
We need some rules and if you find
One that might work, slow down. Be kind.
Don’t fight for every cause you see
For some turn sour eventually.
So stand up strong for what is right.
Obediently praise the light,
But fear that foul self-righteousness.
Out back’s a bucket for such mess
With soap to make your stained clothes bright.

Linked to Ronovan Writes Décima Poetry Challenge where the challenge is to use “kind” as a rhyme work in either line 2 or 3.